ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the case pertaining to the “Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023” after it issued notices to the parties concerned.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial headed the eight-member bench of the supreme court. The court issued notices to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi, the federation, bar councils, Attorney General of Pakistan, political parties and others in petitions against the bill clipping the powers of chief justice. The Chief Justice said that it could also appoint amicus curiae for court’s assistance.
The court will issue order about Thursday’s hearing later in the day. The CJP said that next date of hearing in the case will be decided after consulting the brother judges.
At the outset of the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer Imtiaz Siddiqui said that the case was very important under the prevailing situation. He told the court that differences widened between the parties after the Qasim Suri case, while the political crisis increased after the National Assembly was restored. “The federal government and the Election Commission are not willing to hold elections which is why the court had to take suo-moto notice,” said Siddiqui.
The lawyer said that problems were created following the court’s directives to follow the Constitution after which the judges and judiciary were criticised. He said the president’s objections to the bill were not examined. Siddiqui further said that the bill will become law after the approval of joint session of the parliament in 10 days. He said that the apex court makes its own rules under Article 191 of the constitution.
